Method of and apparatus for sweeping of mine fields



March 29, 1966 w, 5 ETAL 3,242,862

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING OF MINE FIELDS Filed Feb. 23, 19615 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jn venfars.- WE'EIVEIQ ST'EGEECK HEIQNE'R 5158617 mywuMarch 29, 1966 w. STEGBECK ETAL 3,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING OF MINE FIELDS Filed Feb. 25, 19615 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 29, 1966 w, STEGBECK ETAL 3,242,862

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING OF MINE FIELDS Filed Feb. 23, 1961S Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnvenfors.

+5 Arm/May United States Patent Ofiice 3,242,862 Patented Mar. 29, 19663,242,862 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING OF MINE FIELDS WernerStegbeck, Bremerhaven-Geestemunde, and Werner Siebert, Hannover,Germany, assignors t Comet Apparatebau G.m.b.H., Bremerhaven, GermanyFiled Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,118 Claims priority, applicationGermany, Dec. 5, 1960,

18 Claims. (Cl. 102-22 The present invention relates to a method of andto an apparatus for sweeping of mine fields, and more particularly to amethod of and to an apparatus for clearing a path across a mine field.

An important object of the invention is to provide a method of sweepinga mine field which can be carried out without danger to the personnel incharge of the mine sweeping or clearing operation, which can bepracticed for the clearing of a path across a wide or across a narrowmine field, and which may be resorted to for clearing a rather wide or acomparatively narrow path across a mine field.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of the justoutlined characteristics according to which the clearing of a pathacross a wider or narrower mine field may be completed in a singleoperation, and which may be carried out by a single person.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of and anapparatus for clearing a path across a mine field which may be resortedto in clearing of a field consisting of mines concealed in solid groundor of buoyant or ground mines which are submerged in water.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a novelapparatus for the practice of the above outlined method, the apparatusbeing constructed and assembled in such a way that it may clear a pathacross the mine field in any desired direction, that the sweeping orclearing of the mine field may be carried out at a safe distance fromthe mines, and that the cleared path across the mine field is readilynoticeable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove outlined characteristics which is readily and convenientlytransferrable to a different cale, which occupies little room when notin actual use, and at least some parts of which may be put to reneweduse.

With the above and certain other objects in view, the invention residesin the provision of a method of sweeping or clearing a mine field whichcomprises the steps of connecting a plurality of explosive charges withan elongated carrier preferably assuming the form of or comprising oneor more flexible fuses so that the charges are arranged in at least onerow extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of thecarrier, launching one end of the carrier across the mine field so thatthe carrier entrains and deposits the row of charges on the mine field,and detonating the charges to thereby destroy the mines which arelocated within the range of the detonated charges.

The improved apparatus comprises at least one elongated flexible carrierwhich is connected with a plurality of preferably (but not necessarily)uniformly spaced explosive charges, launching means including aprojectile (e.g. a rocket) connected with one end of the carrier and acatapult or gun for propelling the projectile from one side, across, andto the other side of the mine field so that the projectile entrains therow of charges and deposits the same on the mine field a a mannersimilar to that of shooting a life line in sea rescue operations, andmeans for detonating the row of charges after the charges are depositedon the mine field.

Since the carrier preferably assumes the form of or comprises one ormore cordor cable-like fuses, the charges may be detonated by an igniterat the other end of the fuse or fuses, and the igniting of the fuse orfuses may be carried out in a fully automatic way, e.g. by frictionalheat, by concussion or percussion, by chemical or electrical action, orby a combination of two or more such actions. The ignition of thecharges is delayed sufficiently to insure that the carrier is depositedon the mine field when the detonation takes place.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following detailed description of certainspecific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a mine sweepingapparatus embodying one form of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of a mine field and of the apparatusin operative position after the launching but prior to the detonation ofthe explosive charges;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a slightly different minesweeping apparatus;

FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 3 in operative position withthe carrier deposited on a mine field but prior to the detonation of itsexplosive charges;

FIG. 5 is a schematic section through a receptacle for a series ofinterconnected explosive charges;

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 5 in operativeposition prior to the detonation of explosive charges; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a different mine sweepingapparatus comprising a carrier one end of which is anchored in theground.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiments, andfirst to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a mine sweeping or destroyingapparatus which comprises a normally collapsed, extensible, elongatedflexible carrier in the form of a cord-like fuse 10 connected with aplurality of suitable explosive charges 11 which, when the carrier isextended (see FIG. 2), form a row whose charges are but need not beuniformly spaced from each other and extend in the longitudinaldirection of the carrier. The forward end of the carrier 10 isconnectable with a projectile 12 of any known design, e.g. a suitablerocket comprising a solid or liquid propellent which may be ignited by adevice 12a. The projectile 12 is placed onto a catapult device or gun 13which is anchored in the ground by a stud 13a or the like. Theprojectile 12 and the catapult device 13 together form launching meansfor the carrier, and this launching means is utilized for shooting theforward end of the carrier across a mine field MF which consists of alarge number of concealed mines M, whereby the carrier 10 entrains therow of explosive charges 11 and deposits the same on the mine field inthe manner as shown in FIG. 2.

The rear end of the carrier 10 is connected with a receptacle in theform of a box 14 whichis utilized as a means for storing the carrierduring transportation to the locale of actual use and in which thecarrier is preferably stored in such a manner as to be withdrawahle in afully automatic way when the projectile 12 is propelled in a flight pathacross the mine field MF. In addition, the box 14 serves as a brake orweight by insuring that the rear end of the carrier 10 remains at oneside of the mine field while the forward end of the carrier lands at theother side of the field so that the row of charges 11 extends across andis deposited on the mine field. The

width of the mine field may reach or even exceed 80 meters.

The means for detonating the charges 11 is preferably operated in afully automatic way and may comprise an assembly for igniting the rearend of the carrier so that the carrier consecutively or simultaneouslydetonates the charges 11 and the exploding charges in turn destroy themines M located within the range of the charges. In this manner, thecharges may clear a foot path across a land mine field or a path in awater through which a boat may pass to break the blockade.

T he detonating means shown in FIG. 1 comprises an igniter 15, eg, afriction tube, which is connected with and is located close to or at therear end of the carrier 10, and a lanyard 16 whose hook normally engageswith the igniter to form in the carrier a loop 17. The positioning,construction and operation of the detonating means 15, 16 are selectedin such a way that the detonation of the charges 11 is delayedsufiiciently so as to take place after the carrier 10 already extendsacross and is laid on the mine field MF. This insures that the chargesare detonated when they are close to the concealed mines M. The ignitionof the detonating means 15, 16 occurs automatically once the carrier iswithdrawn from the box 14 and the projectile causes the hook of thelanyard to become separated from the friction tube 15.

For example, the spacing between the individual charges 11 may equal thelength of a step (e.g. 1 meter) so that a person may safely cross themine field merely by stepping into the normally shallow holes formed inthe ground by the exploding charges. As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier maybe stored in its box 14 by folding it in zig-zag fashion, and the boxmay but need not assume the form of a comparatively heavy crate whoseweight offers sufiicient resistance to prevent the rear end of thecarrier from being entrained onto or beyond the mine field. As shown inFIG. 2, the projectile 12 entrains the box 14 from the phantom-lineposition 14 to the full-line position, i.e. the carrier 10 must bestrong enough to withstand the stresses arising during the travel of theprojectile across the mine field. The box 14 may be equipped withauxiliary weights or it may be replaced by a parachute. During thelaunching operation, the carrier 10 is stretched out while in the airand descends onto the field MP in fully extended position owing to theinertia of the weight attached to its rear end.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a modified apparatus whose carrier consists ofseveral cord-like fuses 10, 10a, 10b, 10c which are parallel to eachother and are respectively connected with explosive charges 11, 11a,11b, 110. The fuses 10-190 are maintained in spaced relation by rigiddistancing or spacer elements such as rods 18 made of wood or asynthetic plastic material, and are additionally connected to each otherby transversely extending flexible elements 19. The latter may consistof hemp or a like material. In their entirety, the fuses 1010c, therigid distancing elements 18, and the flexible elements 19 form anelongated netting or flexible ladder for the four rows of spaced charges11-11c. It will be noted that the charges in adjacent rows arepreferably staggered with respect to each other so that their ranges(indicated by the phantom-line circles R) overlap which insures that allmines M of the field MP located below the out stretched carrier aredestroyed when the charges 11-11c are detonated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carrier may be stored in its receptacle 14 in away to form an accordion-like structure which insures that it isautomatically expanded when its forward end is connected to andentrained by the projectile 12. The means for connecting the carrierwith the projectile comprises a pair of flexible cables which aresecured to the foremost distancing element 18 and to a swivel 26. Thelatter is connected with a flexible cable 20 whose forward end isfastened to the projectile 12. The construction of the catapult device13 and of the detonating means 15, 16 for the individual fuses is thesame as that described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

The number of fuses in the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 is selected with aview to clear across the mine field MF a path of predetermined widthe.g. for a vehicle, for a watercraft, or for a column of troops. The box14 again constitutes a weight or ballast which brakes the carrier andprevents the projectile 12 from entraining the rear end of the carrieronto or beyond the mine field.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown that the rearmost distancingelement 18 of the composite carrier for the rows 1111c of explosivecharges may be connected with non-elastic expandible members 22 whichare secured to the receptacle 14. For example, the members 22 may assumethe form of non-elastic helically convoluted wires which may expand to acertain length but will not recoil even if the expanding force isreduced. Of course, if is equally possible to utilize slightly elasticsprings or to replace the coiled members 22 by telescopically connectedtubular members which produce a vacuum when moved in a direction awayfrom each other. The members 22 perform a braking action in addition toor as a substitute for the receptacle 14. As shown in FIG. 7, the freeends of the members 22 may be secured to stakes 23 which are driven intoand are thus anchored in the ground; in such instances, the brakingaction is performed solely by the extendable members 22. FIG. 7 alsoshows that the carrier for the explosive charges may comprise anelongated flexible band 24 and a cord-like fuse 19 which is secured toone side of the band 24 and is arranged in zig-Zag fashion so that theexplosive charges are again disposed in several substantially paral lelrows and are staggered with respect to each other. An advantage of theapparatus shown in FIG. 7 is that it requires a single detonating means15, 16 though its charges are arranged in several rows. The band 24 mayconsist of a textile material, a synthetic plastic netting or the like.The apparatus of FIG. 7 may be accommodated in a receptacle, such as thebox 14 shown in FIG. 5, in a flexible bag, not shown, or in any othersuitable container which is handy in transport and occupies little roomwhen in storage. The band 24 may be folded in accordion fashion or itmay be rolled into the form of a tube when the apparatus is not inactual use. The manner in which the front end of the band 24 may besecured to a projectile is usually the same as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.The single detonating means 15, 16 ignites the fuse 10 when theextenda'ble elements 22 are expanded sufiiciently to permit a separationof the hook of the lanyard 16 from the friction tube 15.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carriercomprising at least one cordlike fuse and having a forward end and arear end, said forward end being respectively nearer to and more distantfrom said rear end when the carrier is respectively collapsed andextended; a plurality of explosive charges connected with said fuse toform at least one row of charges extending in the longitudinal directionof said carrier between said ends thereof; launching means comprising aprojectile adapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrierfor shooting the forward end in a flight path across the mine fieldwhereby the carrier is extended and the row of charges is deposited onthe field; braking means constituting ground contacting weight meansprovided at the rear end of said carrier for applying a braking forcethereto in response to contact with the ground as soon as the carrier isextended and the forward end is still in flight so as to prevent saidrear end from being entrained onto and beyond the mine field, saidbraking force being weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier sothat the rear end of said carrier may be entrained through a shortdistance along the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioningand eventual destruction of said carrier; and means provided at the rearend of said carrier for detonating the charges and for therebydestroying the mines located within the range of said row of chargeswhereby a path is cleared across the mine field, said detonating meanscomprising delayed ignition means for igniting said fuse with sufficientdelay to detonate the charges after the charges come to rest on the minefield.

2. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carriercomprising at least one cordlike fuse and having a forward end and arear end, said forward end being respectively nearer to and more distantfrom said rear end when the carrier is respectively collapsed andextended; a plurality of explosive charges connected with said fuse toform at least one row of charges extending in the longitudinal directionof said carrier between said ends thereof; launching means comprising aprojectile adapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrierfor shooting the forward end in a flight path across the mine fieldwhereby the carrier is extended and the row of charges is deposited onthe field; braking means constituting ground contacting weight meansprovided at the rear end of said carrier for applying a braking forcethereto in response to contact with the ground as soon as the carrier isextended and the forward end is still in flight so as to prevent saidrear end from being entrained onto and beyond the mine field, saidbraking force being weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier sothat the rear end of said carrier may be entrained through a shortdistance along the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioningand eventual destruction of said carrier; and means provided at the rearend of said carrier for detonating the charges and for therebydestroying the mines located within the range of said row of chargeswhereby a path is cleared across the mine field, said detonating meanscomprising a friction tube connected with said fuse and a lanyardconnected with said fuse and having hook means opera'tively engagingwith said tube, said lanyard and said tube forming a loop in said fuse,said lanyard being separated from said tube and said tube igniting saidfuse when the fuse is extended by said projectile so that the chargesare detonated after they come to rest on the mine field.

3. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, an elongated flexible carrier comprising at least onecord-like fuse and having a forward end and a rear end; a plurality ofexplosive charges connected with said fuse to form at least one row ofcharges extending in the longitudinal direction of said carrier betweensaid ends thereof; launching means comprising a projectile adapted to beconnected with the forward end of said carrier for shooting the carrieracross the mine field whereby the row of charges is deposited on thefield;

means provided at the rear end of said carrier for detonating thecharges and for thereby destroying the mines located within the range ofsaid row of charges whereby a path is cleared across the mine field,said detonating means comprising delayed ignition means for ignitingsaid fuse with suflicient delay to detonate the charges after thecharges come to rest on the mine field; and a receptacle secured to therear end of said carrier, said carrier and said charges adapted to bestored in said receptacle and said receptacle constituting groundcontacting weight means and exerting a braking force for preventing therear end of said carrier from being entrained onto and beyond the minefield during launching, said braking force being weaker than the tensilestrength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carrier and saidreceptacle may be entrained through a short distance along the groundrather than permitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction ofsaid carrier during launching.

4. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a receptacle; an elongated flexible carrier comprising atleast one cord-like fuse and having a forward end and a rear end, saidrear end being secured to said receptacle, said carrier being receivedin and arranged in zig-zag fashion in said receptacle so as tofacilitate rapid and frictionless withdrawal of the carrier from thereceptacle; a plurality of explosive charges secured to said fuse so asto form at least one row of charges extending in the longitudinaldirection of the carrier between said ends thereof; detonating meansoperatively connected with said fuse; and launching means comprising aprojectile adapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrierfor shooting the carrier across and for depositing the carrier on themine field, said detonating means adapted to detonate said charges so asto destroy the mines located in the range of said row of charges, saidreceptacle constituting ground contacting weight means for braking therear end of said carrier so as to prevent the launching means fromentraining the rear end onto and beyond the mine field, the brakingforce of said receptacle being weaker than the tensile strength of saidcarrier so that the receptacle may be entrained through a short distancealong the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioning andeventual destruction of the carrier during launching.

5. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a receptacle; an elongated flexible carrier comprising atleast one cord-like fuse and having a forward end and a rear end, saidrear end being secured to said receptacle, said carrier being receivedin and folded in accordion fashion in said receptacle so as tofacilitate rapid and frictionless withdrawal of the carrier from thereceptacle; a plurality of explosive charges secured to said fuse so asto form at least one row of charges extending in the longitudinaldirection of the carrier between said ends thereof; detonating meansoperatively connected with said fuse; and launching means comprising aprojectile adapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrierfor shooting the carrier across and for depositing the carrier on themine field, said detonating means adapted to detonate said charges so asto destroy the mines located in the range of said row of charges, saidreceptacle constituting ground contacting weight means for braking therear end of said carrier so as to prevent the launching means fromentraining the rear end onto and beyond the mine field, the brakingforce of said receptacle being weaker than the tensile strength of saidcarrier so that the receptacle may be entrained through a short distancealong the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioning andeventual destruction of the carrier during launching.

6. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being resepctivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended and comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel cord-like fuses and distancing means formaintaining said fuses in spaced relation; a plurality of explosivecharges connected with each of said fuses so as to form a plurality ofrows of charges extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrierbetween said ends thereof; means adapted to be connected with theforward end of said carrier for launching the same in a flight pathacross the mine field whereby the carrier is extended and said rows ofcharges are deposited on the mine field; braking means constitutingground contacting weight means provided at the rear end of said carrierfor applying a braking force thereto in response to contact with theground as soon as the carrier is extended and the forward end is stillin flight so as to prevent said rear end from being entrained onto andbeyond the mine field, said braking force being weaker than the tensilestrength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carrier may beentrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier; and detonating means for exploding said charges whereby thecharges destroy the mines located Within the range of said row ofcharges.

7. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being respectivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended and comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel cord-like fuses and rigid substantially rod-liketransversely extending distancing means for maintaining said fuses inspaced relation; a plurality of explosive charges connected with each ofsaid fuses so as to form a plurality of rows of charges extending in thelongitudinal direction of the carrier between said ends thereof; meansadapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrier forlaunching the same in a flight path across the mine field whereby thecarrier is extended and said rows of charges are deposited on the minefield; braking means constituting ground contacting weight meansprovided at the rear end of said carrier for applying a braking forcethereto in response to contact with the ground as soon as the carrier isextended and the forward end is still in flight so as to prevent saidrear end from being entrained onto and beyond the mine field, saidbraking force being weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier sothat the rear end of said carrier may be entrained through a shortdistance along the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioningand eventual destruction of said carrier; and detonating means forexploding said charges whereby the charges destroy the mines locatedwithin the range of said rows of charges.

8. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being respectivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended and comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel cord-like fuses and distancing means formaintaining said fuses in spaced relation; a plurality of explosivecharges connected with each of said fuses so as to form a plurality ofrows of charges extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrierbetween said ends thereof; means adapted to be connected with theforward end of said carrier for launching the same in a flight pathacross the mine field whereby said carrier is extended and said rows ofcharges are deposited on the mine field; braking means constitutingground contacting weight means provided at the rear end of said carrierfor applying a braking force thereto in response to contact with theground as soon as the carrier is extended and the forward end is stillin flight so as to prevent said rear end from being entrained onto andbeyond the mine field, said braking force being weaker than the tensilestrength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carrier may beentrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier; and individual detonating means for each of said fuses forexploding the respective charges whereby the charges destroy the mineslocated within the range of said rows of charges.

9. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierconsisting of a net-like structure comprising a plurality of cord-likefuses extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, aplurality of transversely extending flexible connecting elements securedto said fuses, and a plurality of transversely extending rigiddistancing elements connected with and maintaining said fuses in spacedrelation with respect to each other, said carrier having a forward endand a rear end, said forward end being respectively nearer to and moredistant from said rear end when the carrier is respectively collapsedand extended; a plurality of explosive charges connected with each ofsaid fuses so as to form a plurality of rows of charges extending in thelongitudinal direction of the carrier between said ends thereof; meansadapted to be connected with the forward end of said carrier forlaunching the same in a flight path across the mine field whereby saidcarrier is extended and said rows of charges are deposited on the minefield; braking means constituting ground contacting weight meansprovided at the rear end of said carrier for applying a braking forcethereto in response to contact with the ground as soon as the carrier isextended and the forward end is still in flight so as to prevent saidrear end from being entrained onto and beyond the mine field, saidbraking force being weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier sothat the rear end of said carrier may be entrained through a shortdistance along the ground rather than permitting excessive tensioningand eventual destruction of said carrier; and detonating means providedat the rear end of said carrier for exploding said charges whereby thecharges destroy the mines located within the range of said rows ofcharges.

10. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which com prises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end and comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel cord-like fuses and distancing means formaintaining said fuses in spaced relation, said forward end beingrespectively nearer to and more distant from said rear end when thecarrier is respectively collapsed and extended; a pinrality of explosivecharges connected with each of said fuses so as to form a plurality ofstaggered rows of charges extending in the longitudinal direction of thecarrier between said ends thereof; means adapted to be connected withthe forward end of said carrier for launching the same in a flight pathacross the mine field whereby said carrier is extended said rows ofcharges are deposited on the mine field; braking means constitutingground contacting weight means provided at the rear end of said carrierfor applying a braking force thereto in response to contact with theground as soon as the carrier is extended and the forward end is stillin flight so as to prevent said rear end from being entrained onto andbeyond the mine field, said braking force being weaker than the tensilestrength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carrier may beentrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier; and detonating means for exploding said charges whereby thecharges destroy the mines located within the range of said rows ofcharges.

11. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a carrier comprising an elongated flexible band and atleast one fuse connected with said band, said carrier having a forwardend and a rear end;

a plurality of explosive charges connected with said fuse to form atleast one row of charges extending in the longitudinal direction of thecarrier between said ends thereof; means connectable with the forwardend of said carrier for launching the same across and for depositing thecharges on the mine field; braking means constituting ground contactingweight means provided at the rear end of said carrier for applying abraking force to and for preventing the rear end of said carrier frombeing entrained onto and beyond the mine field, said braking force beingweaker than the tensile strength of said carrier so that the rear end ofsaid carrier may be entrained through a short distance along the groundrather than permitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction ofsaid carrier; and means for detonating the charges whereby the chargesdesstroy the mines located in the range of said row of charges to cleara path across the mine field.

12. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a carrier comprising an elongated flexible band and a fuseconnected in zig-zag fashion with said band, said carrier having aforward end and a rear end; a plurality of explosive charges connectedwith said fuse to form a plurality of rows of staggered chargesextending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier between said endsthereof; means connectable with the forward end of said carrier forlaunching the same across and for depositing the charges on the minefield; braking means constituting ground contacting weight meansprovided at the rear end of said carrier for applying a braking force toand for preventing the rear end of said carrier from being entrainedonto and beyond the mine field, said braking force being weaker than thetensile strength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carriermay be entrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier; and means for detonating the charges whereby the chargesdestroy the mines located in the range of said rows of charges to cleara path across the mine field.

13. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being respectivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended; a plurality of explosive chargesconnected with said carrier to form at least one row of chargesextending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier between said endsthereof; launching means connectable with the forward end of saidcarrier for shooting the forward end in a flight path across the minefield whereby the carrier is extended and the row of charges isdeposited on the field; braking means constitut ing ground contactingweight means provided at the rear end of said carrier for applying abraking force thereto in response to contact with the ground as soon asthe carrier is extended and the forward end is still in flight so as toprevent said rear end from being entrained onto and beyond the minefield, said braking force being weaker than the tensile strength of saidcarrier so that the rear end of said carrier may be entrained through ashort distance along the ground rather than permitting excessivetensioning and eventual destruction of said carrier; and means fordetonating said charges and for thereby destroying the mines locatedwithin the range of said row of charges whereby a path is cleared acrossthe mine field, the ranges of said charges overlapping each other.

14-. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end said forward end being respectivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended; a plurality of explosive chargesconnected with said carrier to form at least one row of chargesextending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier between said endsthereof; launching means for shooting the forward end in a flight pathacross the mine field whereby the carrier is extended and the row ofcharges is deposited on the field; cable and swivel means for connectingthe forward end of said carrier with said launching means; braking meansconstituting ground contacting weight means provided at the rear end ofsaid carrier for applying a braking force thereto in response to contactwith the ground as soon as the carrier is extended and the forward endis still in flight so as to prevent said rear end from being entrainedonto and beyond the mine field, said braking force being weaker than thetensile strength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carriermay be entrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier; and means for detonating said charges and for therebydestroying the mines located within the range of said row of chargeswhereby a path is cleared across the mine field.

15. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, a normally collapsed extensible elongated flexible carrierhaving a forward end and a rear end, said forward end being respectivelynearer to and more distant from said rear end when the carrier isrespectively collapsed and extended; a plurality of explosive chargesconnected with said carrier and forming at least one row of chargesextending in the longitudinal direction of said carrier between saidends thereof; means connectable with the forward end of said carrier forshooting the forward end in a flight path across the mine field wherebythe carrier is extended and the charges are deposited on the mine field;means for detonating the charges whereby the charges destroy the mineslocated Within the range of said row of charges to clear a path acrossthe mine field; and ground contacting weight means including extendablenon-elastic means secured to the rear end of said carrier for applying abraking force to the same in response to contact with the ground as soonas the carrier is extended and is still in flight so as to prevent saidrear end from being entrained onto and beyond the mine field, saidbraking force being weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier sothat said nonelastic means may extend and said ground contacting weightmeans may be entrained a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of said carrierduring launching.

16. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field which comprises, incombination, an elongated flexible carrier having a forward end and arear end; a plurality of explosive charges connected with said carrierand forming at least one row of charges extending in the longitudinaldirection of said carrier between said ends thereof; means connectablewith the forward end of said carrier for shooting the carrier across andfor depositing the charges on the mine field; means for detonating thecharges whereby the charges destroy the mines located within the rangeof said row of charges to clear a path across the mine field; areceptacle for said carrier; and extendable nonelas-tic means secured tothe rear end of said carrier and with said receptacle for braking thecarrier during launching of the carrier across the mine field with aforce which is weaker than the tensile strength of said carrier so thatsaid non-elastic means may extend and that said receptacle may be moveda short distance along the ground rather than permitting excessivetensioning and eventual destruction of said carrier, said receptacleconstituting ground contacting weight means.

17. In a method of sweeping a mine field with a plurality of explosivecharges which are arranged in at least one row and which are provided onand distributed in the longitudinal direction of a normally collapsedextensible elongated carrier, the steps of launching one end of thecarrier in a flight path from one side, across and to the other side ofthe mine field so that the carrier is extended and entrains and depositsthe charges on the mine field; and as soon as the carrier is extendedapplying to the other end of the carrier a weight which in response tocontact with the ground acts as a braking force strong enough to preventthe carrier from entraining all the chargse to the other side of themine field and which is weaker than the tensile strength of the carrierand which maintains the other end of the carrier in close proximity withthe ground, so that the other end of the carrier may be entrainedthrough a short distance along the ground rather than permittingexcessive tensioning and eventual destruction of the carrier duringlaunching.

18. An apparatus for sweeping a mine field, comprising a normallycollapsed extensible elongated flexible carrier having a forward end anda rear end, said forward end being respectively nearer to and moredistant from said rear end when the carrier is respectively collapsedand extended; an explosive charge connected with said carrierintermediate said ends thereof; launching means connectable with theforward end of said carrier for shooting the forward end in a flightpath across the mine field whereby the carrier is extended and thecharge is deposited on the field; means for detonating said charge andfor thereby destroying the mines Within the range of said charge wherebya path is cleared across the mine field; and braking means comprisingground-contacting weight means connected to the rear end of said carrierfor applying a braking force thereto in response to contact with theground as soon as the carrier is extended and the forward end is stillin flight so as to prevent said rear end from being entrained onto andbeyond the mine field, said braking force being Weaker than the tensilestrength of said carrier so that the rear end of said carrier may beentrained through a short distance along the ground rather thanpermitting excessive tensioning and eventual destruction of saidcarrier.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN A.BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL BOYD, SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiners.

P. G. BETHERS, V. R. PENDEGRASS,

Assistant Exmnl'ners.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SWEEPING A MINE FIELD WHICH COMPRISES, INCOMBINATION, A NORMALLY COLLAPSED EXTENSIBLE ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CARRIERCOMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CORDLIKE FUSE AND HAVING A FORWARD END AND AREAR END, SAID FORWARD END BEING RESPECTIVELY NEARER TO AND MORE DISTANTFROM SAID REAR WHEN THE CARRIER IS RESPECTIVELY CALLAPSED AND EXTENDED;A PLURALITY OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGES CONNECTED WITH SAID FUSE TO FORM ATLEAST ONE ROW OF CHARGES EXTENDING IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAIDCARRIER BETWEEN SAID ENDS THEREOF; LAUNCHING MEANS COMPRISING APROJECTILE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE FORWARD END OF SAID CARRIERFOR SHOOTING THE FORWARD END IN A FLIGHT PATH ACROSS THE MINE FIELDWHEREBY THE CARRIER IS EXTENDED AND THE ROW OF CHARGES IS DEPOSITED ONTHE FIELD; BRAKING MEANS CONSTITUTING GROUND CONTACTING WEIGHT MEANSPROVIDED AT THE REAR END OF SAID CARRIER FOR APPLYING A BRAKING FORCETHERETO IN RESPONSE TO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AS SOON AS THE CARRIER INEXTENDED AND THE FORWARD END IS STILL IN FLIGHT SO AS TO PREVENT SAIDREAR END FROM BEING ENTRAINED ONTO AND BEYOND THE MINE FIELD, SAIDBRAKING FORCE BEING WEAKER THAN THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF SAID CARRIER SOTHAT THE REAR END OF SAID CARRIER MAY BE ENTRAINED THROUGH A SHORTDISTANCE ALONG THE GROUND RATHER THAN PERMITTING EXCESSIVE TENSIONINGEND EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION OF SAID CARRIER; AND MEANS PROVIDED AT THE REAREND OF SAID CARRIER FOR DETONATING THE CHARGES AND FOR THEREBYDESTROYING THE MINES LOCATED WITHIN THE RANGE OF SAID ROW OF CHARGESWHEREBY A PATH IS CLEARED ACROSS THE MINE FIELD, SAID DETONATING MEANSCOMPRISING DELAYED IGNITION MEANS FOR IGNITING SAID FUSE WITH SUFFICIENTDELAY TO DETONATE THE CHARGES AFTER THE CHARGES COME TO REST ON THE MINEFIELD.